IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


11.25 


t*5 

■  50 


1^  IM 
IIIIIM 


2.0 

1.8 


U    ill  1.6 


V] 


^l 


"Vi^V 


^^j^" 


V 


V 


^%  j>>  ^  ^y/A 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


n  WEST  HUH  STREET 

WEBSTER;  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


,\ 


A 


S5 


:\ 


\ 


o^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Not^is  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be    ibiiographically  unique, 
which  may  £lter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  d^tai's 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
una  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normals  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


□    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 

□    Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagee 

□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pelliculde 

□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

□    Coloured  maps/ 
Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bloue  ou  noire) 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

n    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pellicul6es 

r~y'(  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
1^1    Pages  d6color6es,  tachetdes  ou  piqu^es 

□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 

r~A    Showthrough/ 
I      I    Transparence 


□    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


□    Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualitd  in^gale  de  I'impression 


D 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relid  avec  d'autres  documents 


□    Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 


I — 1    Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 


D 


along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 

distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intineure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout6es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsqua  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  M  filmdes. 


D 
D 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  film6es  d  nouveau  de  facon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


D 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires; 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Th«  copy  filmad  h«r«  hat  b««n  reproduced  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 


L'axamplaira  filmA  fut  raproduit  grAce  A  la 
ginirositA  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 


Tha  imagaa  appearing  hare  are  tha  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  tcaeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printad  or  illustrated  ir^tpres- 
sion,  or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^'  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  c  'irner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  '^s  many  ,rames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Lea  images  suivantes  ont  At*  reproduites  avec  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattetA  de  rexemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmaga. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  sont  filmAs  en  commen9afi^ 
par  la  premier  plat  at  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darni^^re  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  les  autras  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commenfant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derniAro  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN  ". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  il  est  filmA  A  psrtir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

S 

6 

^P 


B 


W  Righl  t 


[House 
the  Ih 

U,  the  TU 
Ue  on  F, 
(I  Convent 
'Ug  vndcr  c 

.■Martin, 
aittee  near 

ivkt  confess 
experienei 
!,  lunvever 
3r:feh  befui 
r^y  divest 
«Wth  gieati 
afamittco  tl 
J  subject. 
Inter  into 
of  our  ( 
I  the  al)le 
^r.  Jones 
Baintainec 
linst  Grei 
ffl  Our  tit  If 

L/Al,U01 

and  by 
'iwn  frtjin 
of  whi 
-fcif   myself 
y^rsrumen 
ri^niber  on 
-nay  ooUeai; 
At  tlu;  con 
levari  (Voiii 
'feijret  at  h 
his  birt 
from   M 
i,  [iwintii 
i,  in  Soul 
ny  birth  ; 
B,  Moultr 
ind  of  sta 
I  a  halo  ( 
Sir,  well  r 
[  is  the  no' 


■? 


SPEECH 

I  BARKLEY   MARTIN, 

OF  TENNESSEE, 

t0  RigU  to  Orei-on,  and  the  liesoltition  of  JVotke  lo  lennimle  the  Joint  CtmverUion  of  18IQ 
%<lnat  fintain.     Delivtrcd  in  Coinmiilec  of  the  l^Vluole,  Fehniary,  1846. 


House  or  Uki-reskntativks,  Febrnan/ 1      Loving  llie  land  of  my  birlli,  i(.  is  reasonable 
tfie  Nmuse  hciy  u,   Comiiuttn  r^^"  «/te  j  tu  suppose  tl)at  I  should  naturally  feel  an  adrfii- 

^         ration  for  her  statesmen  and  sons  who  held  their 


Ic.  the  Tiesobilionsrcporled  from  the  Com 
tie   on   Forei<rn  Jjjhin,  to  terminate  the 
U^Convcnilon  of  \f<i()  ivith  Great  Britain, 
Ij  nnder  consideration : 

adilri'ssed 


tlie 


^Martin,    of  Tennfisspe, 
$|ttee  nearly  as  follow.^: 

iifet  confess  that  1  am  n(jl  wholly  destitute 
,^-perienee   in   public  ^pcakiim".     1  expe- 
ls however,  on  this    occasiiui.a  dirlldeiico 
3r:felt  before,     (should  be  jjraliliL'd,  could 
r^y  divest  myself  of  it,  tliat  1   miirht  be 
With  greater  c-learnes.-^,,  to  roiiununiclue  to 
mittco  the  views  I  cntoitain  on  this  im- 
subject.     In  the  outset.  1   M'ill   promise 
inter  into  a  prolonired  oiseuhsion  on  the 
of  our  (the  Amr-riean)  title  lo  Oregon, 
the  able  atid  learned  mcmbti  from  Geor- 
r.  Jones  I  has  ehariy  and  uKiSt,  ci-nvine- 
aintained  the  validity  of  uur  titio,  not 
inst  Great  Britain,  hut   aoain.st   all    the 
Our  title  has  been  most  ably   set   forth 
Cai,hoin,   as    Vvcll    as    !)v    Mr.    Bu- 
and  hy  the    ho.'iorrtl)le    and    venerable 
n  from  Massur^huseUs.  [Mr.  Adams.] 
of   which,    it  would  Ik?  presumpliun  in 
-M   myself   to   attempt  to  elucidate,  by  a 
y^argument,  thai,  which  is  so  ap.oarent  to 
iteiuberonlhis  floor,  with  only  twoexcep- 
-#y  colleajrues,  [Messrs.  GE.vxuvand  Ew- 
Jit  thfi  commencement  of  this  C(,noTess, 
leiftian  from  Michioan;  [Mr.  (.hii'ma.vI  ex- 
dfeirret  at  lieinir  .i  native  of  the  State  (  Ver- 
If  his  birth.     In  thai  I   differ  from  the 
from   Michig-an.  and  with  the  member 
i,  [jwintinu-  to  iMr.  Bfiit.]    I  was  born  in 
1,  in  South  Carolina,  and  I  trlory  in  the 
ly  birth  ;  the  land  of  heroes!  the  land  of 
?,  Moultrie,  and  of  Marion  ;  the  land  of 
ind  of  statesmen,  whose  brilliant,  careers 
a  halo  of  giory  over  her  own  institu- 
Jir,  well  may  1  glory  in  my  birth  place; 
:  is  the  noblest  reflection  in  "  memort/'s 


seats  upon  this  floor  during  the  28th  Confess. 
That  I  should  be  led  as  a  backwoodsman  (as  I 
was  denominated  by  the  Editor  of  the  Washing- 
ton Union,  which  I  appreciate  as  a  compliment,) 
to  be  influenced  in  the  formation  of  my  opinions 
upon  this  rrreat  National  subject,  by  the  action  df 
those  distinguished   for   their  sound  judgment, 
learning',  and  patriotic  devotion  to  the  honored  in- 
stitutions of  t)ur  common  country,   is  natural. 
When  I  learned  that  the  gentleman  from  South 
CaroIina,[Mr.  IIhett]  or  either  of  hiscolleagues, 
was  to  occupy  the  floor  on  such  and  such  days,  I 
felt  sure  that  my  time- honored  native  State  would 
lie  ably  represented.     When  I  saw  my  colleague 
[Mr.  MiLTON  Brown]  voting  for  the  ainend- 
mentiogive  Great  Britain  notice  to  terminate 
the  Convention  of  1827,  and  then  voting  against 
the  bill  as  amended,  I  ?;sked.  Was  it  right? — 
When  I  saw  my  able  predecessor  [Mr.  A.  V. 
Brown  I  voting  for  the  bill  as  amended  ;  when  f 
read  the  nanaes  (»f  the  gentlemen  from  South 
Carolina,  [Messrs.  Burt  and  Rhett]  and  a  host 
of  others,  voting  for  the  Bill  that  passed  the 
house  in   1815,  and  for  the  annexation  of  the 
lione  Star,  I  came  immediately  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  Oregon  was  ours ;  thai  we  should  ex- 
tend our  law  over  our  own  soil,  and  give  to  Great 
Britain  the  peaceful  notice  provided  for  by  the 
Convention  of  1827.    After  mature  reflection, 
and  when  before  the  people  canvassing  for  the 
s(!at  f  now  occupy,  1  look  the  bold  ground  oon- 
f^mplated    by   the   Resolution  now  before  this 
committee.     Such  were  my  views;  such  are  still 
my  views — and   the    determination    has    been 
strengthened.     Other  means  having  failed,  it 
becomes  us  to  march  up  to  this  question,  direct- 
ing the  President  to  act  in  the  name,  and  by  au- 
thority, of  this  Government,  and  terminate  the 
said  Convention  of  1827. 

I  prefer  sir,  and  will  vote  for  the  Resolution 
reported  by  the  Committee  on  Foreign  RolKtioM, 
without  amendment.    If  that  cannot  pass,  then 


2 


I  will  vote  fur  either  of  the  nmoiidments  offered 
by  the  gentleman  from  Viririnia,  [Mr.  Drom- 
ooole]  or  South  Carolina,  [Mr.  IJi.ack.J  And 
last,  not  least — I  hvg  pardon  ;  and  last,  yet  least, 
I  may  give  luy  vote  for  the  anieiidnient  of  the 
gentleman  from  Alabama,  [Mr.  iiiM>iARi:)|  not- 
withstnndiiio;  the  tendency  of  iiis  resohition  to 
increase  the  much  compiaiiied  of  "  rme  man's 
power." 

The  honorable  gentleman  from  i^lahama,  in 
the  debate  on  this  »iuestion.  told  ns  that  he  had 
separated  from  his  political  friends,  with  whom 
he  was  in  the  habit  of  acting,  when  he  broke  a 
way  from  the  bulk  of  that  party  on  the  Texas 
question;  but  that,  on  the  question  now  under 
debate,  he  found  a  majority  of  his  parly  with 
him;  as  well  as  a  large  portion  of  the  Democra- 
tic party. 

A  large  portion  of  the  Democratic  party  with 
hiin !  not,  sir,  with  him  for  his  amendment  in 
preference  to  either  of  the  others  as  above  noted! 
Not  a  majority  of  the  Democratic  parly  for  that 
non-committal  Resolution  which  is  designed  to 
shift  the  responsiijility  from  this  house,  and  give 
to  the  President  the  ptnver  as  argued  by  my  col- 
league [Mr.  Cock]  to  annul,  repeal,  or  termi- 
nate the  treaty  of  18^7,  which  treat}'  was  and 
now  is,  the  supreme  law  of  the  land  !  Enter- 
taining a  high  regard  for  the  gentleman,  (once 
my  near  neighbor  in  Georgia)  1  would  ask  the 
gentleman  if  he  did  not,  in  1840,  and  in  1844, 
oppose  strenuously  the  ''one  man  power'" — the 
"veto*'  power — as  provided  for  in  the  Constitu- 
tion? I  do  not  see  the  nod  of  assent — but  i  see 
the  playful  smile,  signifying  yea.  We  all  recol  - 
lect  the  hue  and  cry  against  the  increase  and 
extension  of  alleged  encroachments  upon  the  le- 
gislative powers,  conferred  by  the  people,  by  this 
"one  man  power" — it  was  tlie  subject  of  many 
able  and  eloquent  api)ea!s  to  influence  the  Amer- 
ican people  to  confer  their  suftVages  upon  (Jiie 
who  had  openly  avowed  that  the  "veto  poti'cr'' 
should  be  qualified,  and  that  it  should  be  exer- 
cised only  in  extreme  oases.  Yet,  strange  to  tell, 
in  this  very  hall^  beiure  the  eloquence  of  able 
gentlemen,  now  members  of  the  'iOth  Congress, 
has  died  away  upon  the  ear  of  listening  multi- 
tudes, one  of  that  party  comes  f)rward,  and,  by 
Resolution,  tenders  to  the  President  the  discre- 
tion to  annul  absolutely  a  supreme  law  of  this 
land. 

Permit  me,  sir,  to  warn  my  friends,  and  ttii 
them  that  this  measure  is  avowed  l)y  one  gentle- 
man in  the  opposition,  with  frankness.  If  of 
good  result,  well ;  if  evil  follow,  we  will  hold 
(the  President)  responsible  before  the  American 
people.  It  may  be  the  policy  of  the  gentleman 
from  Alabama,  and  the  avowed  policy  of  the 
gentleman  from  Ohio,  [Mr.  Delano]  by  him  so 
expressed,  as  to  avoid  responsibility;  but  it  is  not 
80  with  the  Reprasentative  from  the  6ih  Con- 
gressional District  of  Tennessee.  In  this  result, 
great  as  it  necessarily  will  be,  the  member  now 
addressing  the  Chair  feels,  as  he  trusts  every 


Vmeri 

American  should  feel,  a  laudable  ami,  ^j^^  , 
share  in  its  momentous  consequences.  ^  ^„  .jj 
My  colleague  [Mr.  Cock  J  who  has  g^i,|,  r 
much  credit  from  this  liody,  learned  as  ^^^  "|, 
least  it  sbouM  iii')  in  bis  iriaiden  !^I'P''eii,[|Q^,\v 
that  rjiis  nolic!-  is  a  w.ir  measure.  In  si^  j|,p 
t!i;s,  be  calls  to  his  aid  the  lan'j;uag(!  w;^y^,pi 
venerable  gentleman  from  MassnchusoiJt.^ 
Ai)\Ms  I  used  at  tbn  lust  session  of  ihe  '•^'•Sg  . 
gress,  n'liii  cxin-isslii  ilvrhtrtd  Unit  (lie  H(]^  p^^i 
a  "war  'ntviisurc  ;^' — and  ibal,  '•  becaii|ipp(,p 
of  that  Cihaiai'li'r.  and  tite  war  power  ^  in 
pros.'dy  given  to  Congress  by  the  ^"•'"■n  ilm 
ihf  iiiiiise  bad  every  tiiipjj;  to  do  with  ftif.i(ic 
mv  ddlermie  then    vott>   for  the  amenc, 


the  gentleman  from  Alabama,  when  he 


^,!J  havt 

in  the  language  of  Mr.  Adajis,  that  u  i^gjjye  to 
mi'asure" — and  "that  Congress  ami  in't  :,0«petui 
ideiit  wast  lie  war  making  power"  ?  My  (,  ^\^^^  • 
again  said.  ''  it  is  prop'jr  to  give  to   Cr„||Jjpjg|^; 
tain  noti<"e  of  our  determination   to  abrii;i|j'j,^j^,. 
Convention   of  18"i7'."     Our  'letermiiHg|,,p„  , 
ahrou;'.!^' !     How,  givo  this    notico,  b\„_  j^u[)j 
iiig  the  ameiiiimcnt  of  the  gentleman   Irtyy  ;iiiai 
i  liama  ?     Surely  not.     Would  my  collea^  ^  n-IiU) 
the  Presidciii  additional  power?     ''^"'■lifaflentati 
th(!  fact — A  [lowiir  to  declare  war,  if  thij^j.^r  in 
menl  is  adopted — Is   this  in   character    ^^^  |,p] 
orned  of  the   party  \i>  define  and  restrici'J^pj"  ^Jng 
tive  power  !    The  eoneUisiou  is  the  revjijg^  \,\ 


V 


and 
war,  I 

\nA 


.My  policy  is,  or  Congress,  in  latigiia.i|jQj,g 
and  nin.-iinivocal.  to  speak  to  England  thrr^j^ym  \ 
Chief  M.i^risirale  of  this  nation;  f  pf'ak  •j,'''^(,inir 
provi(ied  lor  iiy  the  Convention,  and  tell  Spyn  Th 
the  "joint  occupancy,"  so  lamiliarly  "sJats,  [I\ 
andmust  terminate.  It  is  a  poaee  HK-asiJ^pijnj  j 
so  (!onsidered  ;  it  is  so  intended  ;  and  is  ^^fc^  o-on 
ded  by  able  genilemen  on  this  lloor,  w 
the  notice.  Give,  then,  this  notice,  an; 
expiration  of  avelve  months,  we  areas 
by  thp  treaty  of  lihent,  the  rightful  p 
of  the  territory,  surrendered  and  conve\y|  /■, 
by  the  British  Government  tbrou,^-!i  ["_  -J 
qualified  agent  at  that  time.  '^f  u  ,. 

Thir's  notice  should  be  given,  that  iiSB.  Ma; 
leges  enjoyed  by  the  sidyects  of  Great  '^Sfe.  Ada 
Jhwricaii  soil  should  terminate — and  g|«\vouU 
citizens  he  more  |)erfectly  secured  and  '''ape of  i 
in  their  rights  of  freemen  to  American  soL  ^^  pre 
this  notice,  that  the  way  may  be  clear«i_tpp([ed 
into  full  force  and  elfect  what  is  conteinfjp[[,on<''l 
an  organic  territorial  Government.  Gj^^t  Bn 
notice,  that  England  may  understand,  ai,aVwar  c 
that  we  are  resolved  to  protect  our  eili;Vj.Qut. 
to  occupy  our  soil,  and  to  defend  both.^«  ^U 
the  energies  of  this  growing  young  Reui.^  '  j  , 

By  doing  this,  sir,  we  encourage  emi^^  was 
we  strengthen  the  people's  love  of  free 
ment.  Throw  arotmd  your  citizens  the 
tion  of  your  stripes  and  stars! — let  thi 
that  thpy  are  under  your  laws! — that  tl 
n.)t  neglected,  cast  off,  and  you  will  tii 
riers,  which  will  be  a  defence  against  lli 
der,  who  dare  clainr,  dare  seek  to  get  a 


«,  [^ 

iment 

an  fr( 

ictar 

wou 


a 


ipfiericaii  soil.     Maintain  our  rights,  pro- 

,1    „   I      ,  ,,  r  citizens  wiierever  llioy  are.  and  yo'i  will 

isconsp  ^"^'  ^^®  "^''"'^"'^  patriotism— and  the  people 

C()rKi'''^?^^T     y  to  arms,  to  the   tentpci   field,  and   to  the 

l„„i,    1  "^      ,        field,  airainst  the  sava-r,.  fo,-,  aoajnst  this 

.;>.  m.  i.i  „  'i  ttle,  less,  savage,   civihzed   Government, 

I  ,     ''noe  whetted  the  i<iiile.  and  Lr:ive  Iho  toiiia 

,1  ,1      ,  to  the  Indums.  thai  wns  reddened   in   toe 

11  Uk;   l!in!'lia(r(!   \\:  J        ■  ,1111  m   ■        • 

tr.,  ,   M         ^        ')fourmnoi-eMl  and  he|j)lo«,s(ines.    i\r:   nam 

'   -*!s;  onr  citizcnis  proieei, :  he  just   to  all, 

march  forward  and  give  the  I'resi- 


;ist  session  of  l]i('  -41 

lirland  thai  the  )ii til.  .        1  .    1  1     .u  n      1   .• 

..,,,1,,    ,        .      '".nfe  power  contemplated  by  the  R.(\'Jolution 
.100  iii.tl,       liHoaii-^          I          11                                1         .•  ■       • 

\WpeopIe  will  soon  ereet  tenipk  ■  ot  ju»lice 

.  ,'  .I'^^'^yi  '    68  in   which   to  wursiiip  the   livinir   God 

;,!„,.  .     I  ^'    .'I'""atlie  heariig  of  riie   waves  of"  the  deep 
iiiPt*-  to  do    with  ~     •  ■  -  ' 


;ress 


i''e   I'lr   ijie 


P»ci(ie. 


i„L  ,„  L       ,  "%  J  have  been  iwrtieuiar  in  definiiio-  r-  y  ixi 

laoania,  when  lie    -  1  •  4        •  •         •,  '  , 

Vin.M'    th-f  't-   Opon  this  great  American  (inesiion.  which 

r.  ..,,.", '''      '"    ^    'cfflve  to  be  so  closed v  allied  with  the  irrowth 
v-'ongress  am.  iioi  ;         ,   •         ..  :    •         .      .      .    =      , 

nf  power"?  Mv  '^Te'm'y  "*  "ur  glorious   institutions,  that 
,„7  I  >     •       "'    ;,'wiio  have  honored  me  with  their conlidonee 

ViT  to    (riv(j    to    {,r        ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  1,1. 

rn.;,.„.;''  .  ,  uonerstand  ine  thoroushly.  I  shall  now  pro- 
riiimation   to  abrn  a  •     .•      ..  i       i-  <  r  >>  r  < 

>»     n.,      1  .        I    to  notice  the  remarks  which  relnroin  several 
Uiir   deterniiiD^Z.         1     ■        .1       i-  r.i-      u    l 

i,  ji  j, .         .    ^       teftien   dnrin;;   the  discussion   of  this  all  ab- 

ihe  <-o  il  ■'  '  ''^"ff  subject,  and  yenernliy  to  defpnd  our 
w-'HT  ''"''^"  '''try  auainst  the  kcrs  and  jihcs  thrown  upon 
U  I,  d  my  collea,  ^f  „^^^- ,„  j,  „,-^^  ^^.j,^  ,.J,  ,|,ea,s..|ves  ll... 
lat  power "     SofL^i         •  ,•  ..  .       . 

if  elnm  T  ',  weutatives  ol  Iroemen.  iind    who   were   so 

hi'  in  V""'  '^'l#ir  ill  depictino-  the  stiength  of  Great  Bri- 
Tn,  \  '■'^•^'■"''t'-r  ,ind  heralding  forth  to  the  world  the  impo- 

clerine  iiK   res*rici-/  .'.u-    in.        le  1        l 

,„],  •  •  ,,  ^'y  oi  this  brave,  crallant,  ;;nd  free  peopl",  who 
if'liision  is  the  revi £,„»  i.-     ,      1  ,"      ,  1  . 

"  *""*  •'  ""' ' ,  find  gnu  to  gun, 

lie  of  admiration 


ngress.  m  langua, 
ak  to  England  thn 


8|l|(iet  Kngland  man  to  n 
[hose  prowess  is  the  to 


IS  nation  ;  S|)eak  _ 
iiveiition.and  tell 
'  so  lamiliarly  iiv 
I  is  a  pi>ace  measi 
ntended  ;  and  is 
on  this  iloor,  vvh 
I,  this   notice,  an 
onths,  we  areas 
It,  the  riti-hiliil  p 
dered  and  convci, 
iinent  lhroii,r!,  }' 
inie. 


Ihoul  the  civilized  world 
oing  this.  I  will  res])ectl(illy  notice  what 
im  the  vem^rable  geniloman  from  IVlassa- 
tts,  [Mr.  Ada.ms]  and  also  from  a  gentle- 
Troni  Indiana  [Mr.  C.  B.  Smith  |.  What 
legeiitlemaii  from  Massachosetts  ?  "Give 
>,  and  my  word  for  it.  [  lielieve  there  will 
war,  unless  I'resident  Polk  hacks  out." 

Ada.ms. — The  gentleman  misunderstood 


e  Chair. — Does  the  gentleman  from  Ten- 

i^   yield    the   floor  to  the   gentleman    I'rom 

chusetss,  for  an  explanation  ? 

M.viiTiN. — Certainly. 

Adams. — I  will  explain.     I  said  I  believed 

e|f  would  be  no  war;  and  that  I  rather  believed, 

'fpteof  neceseity,  that  war  would  be  prevented 

mil.  1      I        I'liie  President's  backing  out.     I  said  that  I  ap- 
nr  a\  t,e  cleaivd^^^jg^j  j,,^^  jf  ^,^g  ^^  ^,pJ  i,^   -^^^^^ 

ove n^mpot  "^^^  *'**^°"5?^'^  >*  «"^''^  ^"  ''»'  ^'"^  hoped  it  would, 
J.,H  V  1  '1*  Britain  would  yield:  but  if  she  did  not, 
)  unuerstand,  ai,at,war  could  be  prevented  by  Mr.  Polk's  back- 
Totect  our  citi;-       „,, 

0  defend   both.\,     .,  i  «    ,  r  ,-j  ,       ■ 

ino-  v.iiinn.  p„,>,  Mf-  Martin. — 1  nnd  I  did  not  much  niisun- 


^  given    that   1!.' 
»jects  of  Great  ]]] 
erminate — and 
y  secured  and  c 
1  to  ^'hncrican  sol. 


ng  young  Repi, 

encourage  emi, 
's  love  (if  free 
iiir  citizens  tlieS 

stars!— let  tli| 

laws! — that  tif 
id  yon  will  hi 
iipce  against  tlil 

seek  to  sfet  a  I 


0|fnand  the  gentleman.     The  spirit  of  his  re- 
was  caught  up  by  the  genileman  from  In- 
|a,  [Mr.  C.  B.  Smith,]  who  endorsed   the 
iment.     I  would  speak  of  the  venerable  gen- 
lian  from  Massachusetts,  with  the  profoundest 
Bct  and  veneration.    Very  respectfully,  ihere- 
\,  would  I  say  that  he  is  under  a  mistake  as 


to  the  character  of  the  President.  I  know  his 
iron  nerve :  I  know  his  noble  bearing :  his  firm 
and  determined  purpose — cool,  cautious,  yet  de- 
cided— and  I  feel  implicit  confidence  that  if  Con- 
gress will  but  clothe  him  with  the  power  to  give 
this  notice,  he  will  do  it,  and  not  recede  a  single 
inch.  The  member  from  Ohio,  [Mr.  Giddinos] 
that  young  and  magnanimous  State,  in  the  witii- 
eriiig  blast  of  his  heated  imagination,  is  at  a  luss 
fir  words  suflicieiitiy  contemptuous  to  describe 
the  Presiilent'spnsilanimity.  He  says  "  you  can- 
not kick  the  President  into  a  war."  Let  me  ask 
whence  has  this  light  so  suddenly  dawned  on 
the  member's  intellect?  Where  did  he  get  that 
iiitelliorence  ? 

Mr.  GiDDiNGs  here  rose  and  impiired  whether 
Mr.  .M.  wished  a  reply. 

Mr.  Martin. — Take  your  seat,  sir,  and  keep 
your  seat,  sir! 

The  Chajk. — The  gentleman  from  Tennessee 
has  tin;  tloor. 

Mr.  M\RTiN. — F  ask  again,  whence  such  wis- 
dom ?  Whence  such  a  sudden  revelation  ?  Per- 
mit me  to  remark  that  he  too  has  misunderstood 
the  character  of  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  his 
country,  a.s  well  as  the  character  of  the  southern 
people.  I  will  tell  the  member  one  truth.  When 
his  black  regiments — his  odoriferous  allies — the 
contemplation  of  which  seems  to  g  ve  him  so 
much  delight,  shall  reach  the  south,  the  Presi- 
dent, with  the  aid  of  all  true  patriots,  "  before 
we  drink  the  dregs  to  be  pressed  to  our  lips,"  will 
kick  not  only  him,  but  his  coadjutors,  out  of 
South   Carolina,  and  hold  up  to  the  scorn  and 

eon [Here  Mr.  .M.  was  called  to  order  by 

the  Chair.J 

I  will  now  (said  Mr.  M.)  pay  my  respects  to 
my  honorable  colleague,  [Mr.  Cockk,]  for  whom 
personally  1  cherish  the  highest  respect.  He 
seems,  by  some  means,  to  have  worked  himself 
into  a  pet,  and  because  he  is  a  pet  himself,  he 
imagines,  as  a  matter  of  course,  that  every  mem- 
lier  of  the  cabinet  is  also  in  a  pet,  and  the  President 
more  particularly.  My  colleague  says  that,  af- 
ter })iiblishing  to  all  the  world  that  our  title  tu 
Oregon  is  clear  and  indisputable,  the  President 
immediately  turns  round  and  offers  to  give 
away  one-half  it;  and  then,  because  the  British 
minister  dt)es  not  accept  the  offer,  he  flies  into  a 
pet,  and  withdraws  it.  Another  of  my  colleagues 
[Mr.  Gentry,]  says  the  President  "hnlfishly" 
withdraws  it.  "Hufl^shly!"  I  appeal  to  the 
noble  Tennessee  spirit  which  I  know  inhabits 
thv;  breasts  of  my  ccdleagues,  and  I  ask  of  them 
to  say  what  the  President  could  have  done  less? 
W^hen  Mr.  Pakenham  said  to  him,  Eng- 
land expects  a  proposition  on  your  part,  which 
shall  have  greater  justice  and  liberality,  would 
he  have  had  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  this  great 
Republic  to  have  degraded  himself  and  the 
American  people  by  repeating  the  offer,  and 
humbly  soliciting  its  acceptance?  Would  he 
h  ive  asked  him  to  implore  Queen  Victoria  gra- 
ciouslv  to  vouchsafe  one  smile  of  approbation 


1 


JL  «.>' 


«J 


f 


up6n  it?  I  scorn  .such  i.  impntation  on  our 
Oorernment  as  iinplir^d  in  the  sneer.  I  for  one 
would  have  denounced  Mr.  Polk  if  he  had  not 
withdrawn  the  offer  the  instant  it  was  so  dis- 
courteonsiy  rejected. 

Is  Oregon  ours  ?  I  hoar  nnothor  sound  com- 
ing frotii  an  honorable  Qeiitlenian  froi)^  New 
York,  [Mr.  Cui.vkr,]  who  says  that  Oregon 
is  oars,  and  that  "there  would  have  betM  none 
of  this  difficulty  if  the  President  had  not  swajr- 
^ered  so  much  in  his  Inaiijjnral."  I  would  re- 
spectfully ask  of  the  gentleman  wherein  the 
"swaggering"  consists  ?  Is  it  in  the  declaration 
that  onr  title  to  our  proi^rty  is  clear  and  indis- 
putable ?  Was  this  "swaggering  V — was  this 
"arrogant  boasting?"  What,  sir!  has  it  come 
to  this,  that  a  Government  that  represents  twen- 
ty millions  of  freemen  is  not  to  proclaim  to  the 
"orld  that  they  hold  their  title  to  the  soil  of 
their  country  cloar  and  inc'isputable,  imder  the 
penalty  of  being  stigmatised  as  a  swaggerer  and 
boaster? 

My  colleague  [Mr.  CockkJ  says  that  the  Pre- 
sident proposed  lo  give  away  a  part  of  tlie  ter- 
ritoi'y  thus  indisputably  ours.  I  put  it  to  my  j 
colleague  of  the  Nashville  district,  |  Mr.  Kw- 
m&,]  who  says  that  he  had  no  right  to  do  this, 
and  to  my  colleague  from  the  Williamson  dis- 
trict, [Mr.  GENTrv,]  who  coincides  in  the  re- 
remark,  was  it  a  fault  in  the  President  to  do 
what  is  right — to  offer  what  my  colleague  from 
the  Williamson  district  is  himself  in  favor  of — 
the  line  of  49°?  How  magnanimous !  how  con- 
sitttent !  to  condemn  another  for  pursuing  a  poli- 
cy, which  we  adopt  and  approve  of  for  our- 
selves ! 

But  I  am  told  again  that  the  President   pro- 
postfd  to  give  away  a  part  of  our      -riiory.     I 
ask  did   he  not  most  satisfactorily  i,x[ilain  the 
reasons  and  considerations  which  induced  hini  to 
make  the  proposition  ?     With  the  highly  lauda- 
ble atid  patriotic  desire  of  settling  amicably  and 
hdftotably  the  long  pending  question  between  the 
two'  courttries,  he  had  repeated  the  offer  previ- 
ously made  by   President  Monroe  and  President 
Addms,  and  sanctioned  by  the  approval  of  many 
of  our  ablest  and  wisest  statesmen.    It  was  made 
in  a  proper  spirit  of  deference  and  respect  to  the 
opir^iflhs  and  acts  of  his  predecessors  in  office. 
Had  the  ca.se  been  entirely  new,  the  proposition 
would  nevsr  have  been  made  by  President  Polk. 
On  the  question  of  our  title  to  Oregon,  I  regret 
to  n6ar,  for  the  first  time  in  my  brief  career,  an 
isiJei'tion  on  the  floor  of  Congress,  that  the  Ame- 
ricati  Government  has  less  title  to  the  territory 
than  had  even  been  conceded  by  the  British  Go- 
vefcrtiment  itself.    That  government  admits  that 
wte'  have  rights  in  Oregon,  and  a  clear  title  to 
a  part  of  that  territory;  and  who  is  it  that,  in  the 
face  of  this  admission  by  the  British  government, 
riSies  in  this  biill,  and  declares  to  her,  and  to  the 
wbrid,  •*  No,  no ;  our  title  is  doubtful — our  right 
is  doiubtfiiil."  ,  I  regret  to  say  it  is  one  of  my 
oollcia^es,  [Mt.  Ewing]  a  gentleman  who,  of 


all  others,  I  should  have  thought  had  dru  lii)ftrtl 
deepest  of  the  spirit  of  the  Hero  of  the  Hjjg  fp,^ 
age.  Yet  li(>  tells  us  our  rights  in  Oren^^p 
doubtful — tlie  American  title  is  doubtfu  q(jj„„,i 
this  in  the  face  of  the  admission  of  the  l:jth"iii| 
government  it.ni  If.  of  the  validity  of  our^,,  dm,! 
and  title  to  a  portion  of  the  territory,  ^i^riiief 
gentleman  grently  risked  his  reputatioii^ji,  .,4. 
lawyer  and  a  «tafesiiiaii,  in  the  hazarding  ojij,,  |.,j| 
an  opinion  ;  hut  I  tieg  that  the  commitleo  wj^d,^,! 
Judge  of  (he  gentleman's  legal  and  pi'<}fr<j^,.|,„,r 
standing  at  home.  Iiy  the  opinion  su  rashly  i4„|t  f] 
he.-e  I  e.TU  assure  gentlemen  that  as  a  InHj^nrrfl 
he  stands  pre-eminent  in  li is  district ;  Init  1  ,  goverl 
that  wliile  he  is  sn  eood  a  lav.'ver,  he  is  su  %  x\\\\ 
politieian.     |  A  Iniigh.  |  ^    ;,, 

My  culie.i'^ue  from  the  Williamson  ''iiSoii.cl 
[Mr.  Gknti;v,]  anes  even  fart  In  r.  He  -"li^hosif 
liave  no  titi( — nor  luive  tlie  British  any  \fiorl  rl 
Oregon — nor  any  rights  tl'-re  ,  and  he  W(34Ji^||;it| 
to  say  that  the  F.mperor  oi  the  Celestial  Cn^>||  il 

Mr.  C..I.  LNCK.-isoLf,. — The  Celestial  Er|^f  ,„ 

Mr.  Maktin. — Well,  the  Emperor  of  ttii^Mii 
le.stial  Emj)ire,  then —  |n,i 

Mr.  C.  .1.  iNfiKiisor-r,. — The  brother  (HjAg^  ,1, 
Sun  and  .Moon.  \.WPi.  w 

Mr.  Martin. — Very  W(!ll ;  he  it  so.  Tli(ib(^n<;'l> 
tleman  ought  lo  !)(>  learned  in  these  matte  ,l^m 
he  is  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Fi.fwln  C 
Relations.  [Laughter.]  My  colleague,  then,'  ''Do  yj 
that  if  this  potentate,  the  brother  of  the  .Suiijiety,  I 
Moon ,  we  re  to  •  •'  loea  1  e  "  h  i  msel  f  i  n  O  regon  ^  on  IFai dve 
occupied  neither  by  (^-(^ai  Uritain  nor  Armth^rn  hi 
he  would,  in  process  of  time,  get  a  title  (|ui  flirst  m 
good  as  that  of  (in^it  Britain  or  the  United  SwOT  of 
We.  have  no  title  there,  nor  rights  of  aiij  ki(l<*l  the 
but  he  admits  that  the  British  have  claims;.  eUritii 
says  that  he  is  a  farmer,  and  goes  for  a  "stm  Hlood  ^ 
tence"  on  the  parallel  of  49^  north,  I  ani»*lilso  s 
the  sfentleman  is  a  farmer,  and  a  very  gooil^^'-'*i 
I  was  not  aware,  however,  that  Tennessee  far*  wonli( 
were  io  the  habit  of  running  their  fences,  wlniflfcl.  b] 
straight  or  erookeii,  on  their  neighbor's  laiirti"ig  t 
on  land  where  they  had  no  right  or  tit'e.  I  wWth  il 
inquire  of  the  gentleman  when  this  becatiii'i*^roci 
law  or  usage  of  TennesJsee.  It  is  with  me  aiwby 
jeal  of  deep  regret,  that  the  British  governiJ<8/pii' 
and  the  world,  should  he  told  by  a  repnif'it  b 
tative  on  the  floor  of  Congress  of  brave  ■<i^^ -^ 
patriotic  Tennesseeans,  that  we  have  neipl**^^ 
right  or  title  to  Oregon — only  a  claim — when*  rong 
right  and  title  have  been  constantly  asserted.  "#11^' 
have  been  a  subject  of  the  deepest  solicitudW*^*) 
the  part  of  our  government,  since  the  admini-  !«*'  ^ 
tion  of  Jefterson.  ^ti^h 

I  will  now  call  the  attention  of  the  coinmil^^\ 
to  some  of  the  remarks  of  the  honorable  g*^"'^j^  ^ 
man  from  Virginia,  [Mr.  Pendleton]  often  ■^. 
signatcd  as  the  "lone  star"  (of  whiggery)  tC-Irt" 
that  ancient  commonwealth.     I  mea-  the  gen'^^" 
man  of  the  delicate  allusions — and  who  heard  JK  • 
beat  of  the  British  drum  all  round  the  globe^^ 
The  gentleman,  I  perceive,  is  not  in  his  s' 
I  would  that  he  were,  so  that  I  might  feel 


i 


",  thought  had  dm  yiij^rty  lo  any  what  f  intended  in  wWn- 
tlio  Hero  of  th«  H,|,  remarks.  What  did  ihat  distiusruish- 
iiir  rights  in  Orp«^„„  ^^y  7  H«^  points  Ut  tho  gontlf'man 
1  title  19  douhtfii  a|,i„a„,  [Mr.  Cmm-man  \  who  is  ashuu.cd 
;idinissiun  of  Wu-  t^h",,  tlio  Siato  of  Vetinont.and  hv  tells 
hf-  validity  of  ouFjo  ,|„„|,f  ,i„.  British  irovc-nimcni  will  l.c 
of  iho  territory.  j|,rinfd  when  it  shall  h.'ur  thai  two  sueh 
nd  his  ropntatioiijii,  .^^  (j,,„.  (j-i^^  ,^,^,\  ^jr.  Chipman  havr 
in  tho  hazarding  4.. ,  ,,,j.,,  Canada  in  nii.otv  .lays.  Tli.r.' 
U  the  cominittco  wj^tiian  poptrv  in  this  reir.-ark.'  'I'h.^  Hri- 
s  logal  and  prof<N^,.|nu.Mit  is"  indf-nl  v.tv  iilc<.dy  'f  I'" 
Y>pinionsorashly,4,,  ir„ni  anoth<>r  .-ans..."  'Vlw  dehatt-s 
""H'li  that  as  a  hiQIn^rn'ss  havr  g(MiP  forth  lo  tho  world. 
Ills  district ;  JHit  I ;  giovcrnment  rannot  hut  foid  sonu?  appre- 
a  lawyer,  U>-  is  su  '^  ^^^^.  r,^,),l^.^  patriotic  and  abio  speech  of 

I      \,%rii-  ^>  '"  'iiioilier  [tari  of  this  Capiod.     It 

lie   Williamson    di*|<„i^  .l.j,,!,,!,,^^,,  deej)  s..|icitnde  in  Que-n 

■11  tarthf  r.     He  SM'^bosoni.  and  she  will  aiixionslv  inquire 

the  Jiritish  any  \^f^j^  respcctin.r  it.  and  |)rol.al)ly  address 

tl->ro,  and  he  w.3^^|,.,t  i„  this'way:  "Mv  deaV  Albert, 

•  of  the  Celestial  Cp^.(,  \^  ,i,i^'?>'  and  I.e  will  reply  :  '•  It  is 

-I  he  Celestial  En^of  one  Mr.  Cass,  who  is  a  Senator  fioni 

tho  h.inperor  of  f  iK^Michio-an,  who  is  iroin'i  'o  tal.e Canada 

,  gnd   lose  and  win  it  back  a/Tai!i,  all  in 

.—  J  he   brother  u\g^^^^  m(<rely  tiir  the  sport  of  the  oaiue." 

iWJn.  amazed  at  what  she  hears,  replies. 

■ell ;  be  it  so.     'riinbtin(;-|y.  "  I  will  ;ro  to  Sir  Robert    Pee!. 

ned  in  these  riiatt( •  ,l^in  who  the  man  is.     Sir  Lio'iert,  who 

Committee  on  F(.f»ii  Cass,  that  make-;  this  very  fnrions 

kly  colleague,  then,'  *'Do  you  know  ?''     •'  Yes.  may  it  jdeaso 

'  broflierof  thti  Sniijiiety.  f   have  heard  somethin'^  of  bini. 

mself  in  Oregon^oii  Yaidvee,  but  now  livinti;  somewhere  on 

.1  Britain  nor  xirndlWrn  border  of  the  United  Stales.     He 

iiiie,  get  a  title  (|ui  ffirst  man  that  entered  Canada  in  arms. 

lin  or  the  United  Swot  of  181;^     i[e  was  the  otfic(r   that 

or  rights  of  any  kidiJ  the  first  delachmei."  that  was  engagetl 

itish  havc!  claim.';,  tf  firitish  troops,  and  was  present  when 

nd  goes  for  a  ''strn'^od  was  shed,  and  the  first  mm  slain. 

49^  north.     I  ani»*iJJso  selected  bv  the  American  goverii- 

r.  and  a  very  goodlS[8'?0,  to  treat  with  the  liidians  cm  their 

that  Tennessee  far.lrWi»ntier.  over  whom  we  exercised  a  per- 

g  their  fences,  wht»||>l.  by  means  of  onr  liberal  subsidie-t, 

eir  neighbor's  lac^lp!?   ^''^t  our   Indians  were   holdino-  a 

right  or  tit'e.     I  w'WRh  die  British  flag  fl.Kiting  over  their 

when  this  became'^  proceeded  immediately  to  the  spot,  ac- 

It  is  with  me  aied  hy  a  single  interpreter,  reached  forth 

le  British  governiid*  palled   down   tiie   British   f!ag.  and 

B  told    by  a  repnig  it  beneath  his  feet,  declared  it  could 

)ngress  of  brave   O**! .Vmericansoil."*  "Indeed!'' "Yes, 

at  we    have   rieipl**se  your  Majesty,  and  this  same  man 

ly  a  claim — when*  te"g  =>i"ce  the  American  Minister  in 

)nsfantly  asserted,  '♦hen  we  were  agitating  all  Europe, 

deepest  solicitud!^'|Bs^y   rptnembers,  about   the   right   of 

,  since  the  admini-    H»'  wrote  a  pamphlet  at  that  time,  in 

ivhich  changed  the  whole  policy  of  the 

tion  of  the  commii^?^®''"""'"'"  ^^^^  '  ^""^  ^^^^'  *^^^  speech 
the  honorable  ffen!^"''*  ™^"  ^^^y  ^'^^^  g"^  "^•^f  there— 
*endi,eton1  often  ■  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^^  ""''*'  Ambassador  at 
'  (of  whiffcerv)  f;  jj^"''  "^'^J'^^'y  was  then  too  young  to  re- 
I  mea-frheffeiirM"'""^  little,  (dd,  short,  chunky  man, 
.  .  6  JUd  head.  That  old  man  has  always, 
ions,  opiKised  himself  to  what  he  con- 


i — and  who  heard 
I  round  the  globej 

is  not  m  his 
lat  I  might  feel 


l^oolcraft's  Narrative  of  the  Expedition 
ces  of  the  Mississippi,  pp.  137-8. 


aiders  British  aggrits^ion.  [  will  not  tell  your 
majesty  his  name,  lest  the  royal  heart  should  be 
too  seriously  agitated."  This  information  made 
the  little  (jupcn  v(>ry  ilionghttul  for  some  days — 
but  Ibe  next  mail  arrives,  and  suddenly  a  wonder- 
i'nl  change  (v.imes  over  her  feidings.  She  stirids 
in  baste  for  her  princely  consort,  and  embracing 
him  joyously,  exclaims :  ".Mbert!  here's  news, 
glorious  n<'Ws  for  us.  Our  lion  has  been  seen  by 
one  of  the  Hotspurs  of  the  Palmetto  State — ho 
tiiias  pale,  alarmed  at  llu'  object  bt^tiire  him — and 
in  tlie  American  Congress  says  '\  fear!'  More 
than  that,  the  meiuber  from  the  'moral  and  reli- 
gious' town  of  Boston,  says  it  would  be  the  use 
td'  '  brute  force'  to  right  for  Oregon.  Good  !  very 
iniod  I  Hut.  Albert,  the  news  is  still  more  cheer- 
in^-.  Whilst  we  have  conceded  lo  America  rights 
ill  Oregon,  one  of  her  Uepresenlatives  from  tho 
Sta'i;  of  Tennessee,  has  publicly,  in  his  speech, 
coniended  that  his  own  government  had  neither 
rights  nor  titb',  but  only  a  'claini'  to  Oregon.  A 
true  patriot,  im  doubt— but  we  thank  him  for  his 
aTgument.  as  it  strengthens  our  claim.  And  still 
another  Tennessi>aii — be  who  represents  the  dis- 
trict ill  which  AiNPRK^v  .IvrKsoN  sleeps — makes 
an  aryuinent  bold  and  tV'arhvs — what,  for  war? 
Nu — for  Miiisterly  inaelivity;'  and  tells  Congress 
that  ibeir  riinits,  by  the  laws  of  nations,  to  any 
|)art  oi'  Oiegoii,  are  doubtful  :  and  in  support  of 
tbisopiuioii.  h'''  will  risk  his  citaracter  as  a  lawyer 
and  a  statesman.  VV'e  are  ready  to  accord  that 
his  arguiiient  is  coinplinuMitary  to  our  claim;  of 
bis  legal  aliility  and  statesmanship,  his  country 
will  no  doubt  judge.  And  still  the  news  ischeer- 
inij.  The  •  lone  star'  has  risen  in  the  'Old  Do- 
minion;'  its  brilliant  rays  are  beaming  acmss  the 
Atlantic.  He  has  proclaimed  it  aloud  that  the 
sound  of  our  morning  drum  rattles  round  the 
globe;  and  the  viiror  of  our  arms  has  been  tested 
in  the  triumphs  of  a  thousand  battle  fields.  The 
echo  has  reached  our  shores,  that  those  sturdy 
and  turbulent  Americans  have  heard  our  'ear- 
piercing  fife' — they  have  caught  the  distant  sound 
of  our  'spirit  stirring  drum' — and  they  will  awe 
tiiose  Yankee  devils  into  submission." 

Mr.  Chairman  :  When  these  sentiments  from 
the  North  and  South;  from  the  States  that  con- 
tain the  remains  of  two  of  the  most  distinguish- 
ed statesmen,  as  well  as  the  ablest  generals  that 
ever  led  to  victory  the  citizen  soldier;  one  who 
in  the  Revolution  heard  the  lyrant^s  ''mormng 
drui )" with  fear  ?  No,  sir;  such  a  suppo- 
sition would  be  an  insult  to  the  illustrious  dead. 
The  other  heard  their  "spirit  t-tirring  drums" 
when  but  a  buy  in  our  Revolutionary  struggle — 
with  fear  ?  His  whole  career,  in  youth  and  man- 
hood— from  the  cradle  to  the  grave — shows  that 
tho  heart  of  that  man  knew  no  fear,  The  now- 
sleeping  Tennessean,  though  he  saw  her  lion, 
though  he  heard  her  "morning  drums,"  saw  and 
heard  them  without  dread,  but  with  a  warrior's " 
contempt  and  defiance  of  their  prowess,  and 
with  a  burning  desire  to  avenge  the  injuries  of 
his  country  upon  her  haughty  oppressors.  When 
these  indications  of  timidity  by  representatives 


■ptjim]iii« 


li 


of  the  American  people  on  the  flour  of  Cuiigress 
shall  reach  the  little  Queen  of  FiOgland,  ihry 
will  efltjctiially  erase  from  the  royal  iniritl  every 
Bentimenl  of  alarm  oxcitcd  by  the  |Kitriolic 
speech  of  the  war-worn  veteran  and  slaicsman 
[General  ('ass|  in  llic  Seiiale;  it  will  hi^  llie 
sijrnal  for  inirtli  ano  exullation.  iliat  the  Anu-ri 
cans  ••fear;"  that  a  n  prt'scntaiive  in  the  Ain<' 
lican  Contrross  proclaims  licr  "title  to  Orcjion 
doubtful:"  thai  anoth(;r  reprcseiilaiive  linHdenicd 
that  America  has  any  "riyht  or  tith;"  to  Ore 
gon,  hut  "a  ejaim  only;"  and  tliat  iier  drums  arc 
heard  in  the  inorninjf  "to  rnltli'  ail  anmnd  ihe 
world."  Sir,  the nentlemaii  from  Virtjinia  |  Mr. 
Pkniu.f.ton  I  ntjcd  iioi  lie  under  any  solieitude  for 
the  repose  of  the  youtht'ul  Queen  so  rudely  dis- 
turbed by  the  patriilie  bearinu'  aiul  niilitarv  iiinie 
of  General  Cvss;  ihe  iiidieaiiiiiis  on  ibis  llior 
from  so  many  irenllf^nien  that  willi  ibein  "dis- 
cretion is  the  belter  part  of  valor,"  will  efleetu- 
ally  allay  any  appiein^nsious  she  may  have  in- 
duljjed.  The  j>enlleuian  has  so  little  reward  to 
our  rights  m  Oreiion,  arul  to  our  claim  to  that 
territory,  tliat  he  says  be  would  not  ;j^ive  the 
paper  on  wbicii  tlie  deed  could  l»e  written  for 
the  "whole  ol  Oreifon"  tn-niorrow — and  why  ! 
It  is  too  iiir  otf;  wc  don't  want  it;  it  is  not 
worth  a  fig.  Sir,  was  this  the  laniyruaoe  of  our 
Revolutionary  sires  when  they  resolved  to  resist 
the  power  of  Great  Jiritain  ?  Was  it  the  lan- 
guage of  the  American  people  ai  the  purchase 
of  Louisiana  I  Did  they  then  say,  this  lerrito 
ry  is  too  far  away — we  don't  want  it — it.  is  not 
worth  a  fig  ?  Jie  says  it  will  take  some  six  or 
eight,  or  ten  mouths,  to  go  to  Orecjon  by  nea; 
but  I  am  told  that  we  can  go  tlie  wlnde  distance 
of  fifteen  thousan.  ^  in  four  months;  while 

England  has  to  go  •  twenty  thousand;  and 

we  can  make   th  ^  li-.-nJ  journey  of  three   thou 
sand  miles  from  Nmv  Vork  in  three  months. 
One  word  as  to  the  language  used  by  the  "-en- 


Mr.  VVlNTIlKOP  j 


tleman    from   MassachnstJtts, 
— not  the  venerable  e.\-I*resident.     There  is  a 
material  difforenee  in    the  opinions  of  the  two 
gentl-.'men.   This  gentleman  |  a  laugh]  said  that, 
on  the  whole,  it  was  a  little  doubtful  as  to  title, 
but  he  thought  that,  of  the  two,  we  had  the  bet- 
ter  title.     ]}ut  then,  he   a.sks,  are    we  going  to 
turn  savages,  and  fight  Great  Britain  for  such  a 
strip  of  territory  ?     In   his  regular  built  speech 
he  does  nut  say  savages,  but  brutes.     Are  we 
going  to  turn  brutes,  and  use  mere  brute  force  to 
support  our  title  ?    This   may  sound  well  from 
the  representative  of  the  city,  in  which   it   was 
resolved  that  it  was  unbecoraiiijr  a  moral  and  re- 
ligtous  people  to  rejoice  at  the  victories  achieved 
by  our  gallant  tars  over  the  boasting  "mistress 
of  the  seas,"  and  from  the  portion  of  the  Union 
that  held  out  blue-lights  to  guide  the  fleets  of 
the  enemy;  but  it  does  not  sound  very  well  to  an 
American  ear,  and  is  not  very  palatable  to  an 
American   heart.    He  says,  if  we  fight  for  Ore- 
gon, it  will  be  a  contest  of  mere  brute  force.     1 
ask  him,   if  Oregon  is  ours,  and  it  shall  come 


eventually  to  the  last  rcisurt  of  soverf 
whether  he  would  not  employ  "brute  fuggiei 
maintain  the  rights  of  his  country  ?  Ouiji^  ;i 
employed  "brute  f  tree"  in  a  (pi»'Slion  ijimci 
out  of  a  trifling  inx  upon  a  few  ponnd>  ^j^., 
and  that,  loo,  in  IJosiou.  the  ocntlem;i  [^y, 
cradle  of  liberty.  |^  f,,, 

The  K.epresenl:itivr  of  the  Charleston ^r. 
I  Mr.  lIoi.MEs]  acknowledges  that  he  is     jj^f. 
and  ln'  asks  us  if  we  went  out  with  a  ritlf^gn 
cue  a  stray  sheep  from  the  fangs  of  a   wg'fs'n 
when  We  reached  the  s|Mtt,  found  our  ^j^^ 
the  .laws  of  the  lion,  whether  we   wonliijjt  x\>^ 
afraid  ton.  and  ijio  back  and  ifot  eight  oi^q^  ^ 
ties  more  '.      I  vouM  meet  the  figure  use  ^, 
gentleman,  liy  saying  that  our  object  is  t(|j(|  jii 
the  lion  from  gotting  hold  of  our  "  sheiii|*er 
llie  g(Mitlem;m  Iron   Charleston  is  noi  w    jpno 
loan  us  his  rille,  and  that  .South  Carolinsj  flcg 
just  what  1  want  in  this  contest.     It  wnraftiH 
tiv<'  ill  1770.  in  IHI'?,  and  why  should  iel'to 
in  IH'IG?     The  genthMiian  fnnn  Virgintlfchi 
PKNnij;TON|   endorses   the   declaraiionr^i  i 
Representative  of  the   Charleston  disir^^tioi 
savs  be  too  is  al'ijiid.     Well,  sir,  I  ask  x^n  the 
created  tliis  sudden    panic.'     I    rem(-m:ll ^nn 
once  a  British  army   invaded   this   Uistr;ti^  uj 
consiitned  this  cajuiol  with  fire.     The  gi  et  «*  w 
from  Virginia   was  then,  probably,  pkivgojnad 
sporting  on  the  green  lawn:  or,  s«rhoolli3btdiii 
was    "  bobbing"  his  pinhook,  in  hope  olniJiy  si 
iiig  a  "  miimow"  in  the  babbling  brook. f^  coi 
he  beard  the  biMiniing  of  the  distant  cauigfj'evei 
beheld  ainr  off  the  rimy  smoke  that  mariMt|  pro 
barbarian  triumph  of  the  invading  inceriod,  wi 
nay,  was  probably  within  bearing  of  tliHifJfelt, 
of  the  British  drum,  the  mere  thought  (\n|erici 
now  strikes  terror  to  his  heart.     Onemijliiof  tl 
imagined  that  the  recollection  of  a  flaim IdDuu 
t(»l,  and  the  insolent  triumphs  of  the  roywt  said 
midons,  would  have  enkindled  the  fire  I'oH.) 
tic  indignation,  and  awakened   an  ardeiitwthe 
for  an  opportunity  of  avenging  ourselv?Hi  sir, 
the  aggressor,  and  wiping  out  in   his  iiiaUng  t 
meiTiory  of  his  atrocities  and  his  insolem,  when 
the  ghost  of  tijrmer  days  rises  but  in  tc :tB|<l  ^ 
drtjad  to  the  gentleman,  and  he  frankly  x  %  arl 
ledges  that  he  is  afraid.     In  making  sufthe  arl: 
fession,  [  feel  very  sure  he  does  injustieth*  U(j 
Virginia:  such  cannot  be  her  sentinienm^r. 
never!  thij^hol 

But  these  over  cautious  gentlemen  liio^  no 
urgent  in  their  efforts  to  infect  others  \v4»!»vitli 
fears.  If  we  but  shake  our  hand  at  Old  Ib|||bIw 
we  are  reproached  with  gasconading.  Jrtlof  i 
told  of  her  power,  her  resources,  what  dtabjec 
done,  what  she  can  do,  and  what  she  iiVlilce  ( 
do.  But  I  beg  of  gentlenicn,  if  they  afW-  - 
willing  to  go  for  this  notice,  to  cease  unfltt  tov 
ing  and  depreciating  the  ability  and  the 
ness  of  the  American  people  to  defend  tl 
or  and  their  interests,  when  assailed  ft 
quarter,  howevef  powerful.  Mr.  Clay, 
when  addressed  by  the  submissionists  wi 


W( 


,11 
tin 
son 
ert 
n  t 
If 


4 


last   nsHurt  of  sove^ 

not  employ  "brute  foments,  fxclaiined,   "  Cease  to  proclaim 
•.«  his  country  ?     Our|,|  arms  and  the  power  oflireat  llritain!" 
i-r.'c  '  in    a  (pifstion  ^jfection  woiil.t  apply  with  (Mpial  pertina 
V  npuua    Jew  poumK  fcjj.j.  i„  is-iC. 

Josion.  tho   ociitletiia  ji^^v  liiimiiiatinii;  luusi  it  he  to  lui   Aiiu'ri- 
a  foreign  ian  I,  wIm'ii  lie  rcailsot"  till' ylory, 
ivr  ol  tlic  Charlesioii,^f^  i,,„|   ,[„,  i,iviiK!i!)i!ily  ol'  tlir   British 

Am 


i(>wli(lir,s  that  /((■  ;.s 
.'  weril  out  with  a  rifl^ 
i>iTi  the  faiths  of  a  vv 
tin-  s|Hit,  li)uiui  our 
.  wild  her  we  witnli 
ck  and  ijcl  HJa-Jit  oi 
I  UH't'l  the  ficnirc  use 
•r  that  our  oiiject  is  t(^ 
f  licild  of  our  " sliec 
Charleslou  is  not  u 


eraiucd    liy    iMcuibers   tit   an   Aiiit'ricaii 

as  an  ariiMinciit  to  dftcr  it  fr.tiii  assort 

atioiuil  rights  ami  lioimr.     llou',  I  ask. 

1  (leclarations  of  our  inability   lo  defend 

ri^^his,  and  cope  wiih  an  (incniy  that  our 

successfully   )irapplcd  with  in  infancy 

■e  had    ;i  distinct    naiiouality,   fall  u|M)n 

of  tho.sc  veterans  of  the  Uevolntioii,  who 

er  ainouust  us?     Will  liu-y  not  be  rca 

iicludc,  and    with    reason,   that   this  is 

( 


that  South  (.'arolin5it''iJe!Tcni;rate  ai^e,  when  liic  roll  of  the  IJri- 
ihis  cont(>st.     Ii.  w;<jti)tns^.  that  r.nly  directed  ihetu  with  hearl 
2.  aiul  why  should  i^l'ty  the  enemy,  is  heard  hy  their  ortsprinir, 
ihMiian  from  Virnrjtitlijhipse  of  half  a  <-entniy,  with  "fear!" 

to   be 


ses   the   (leclaraiiorif^l|ii  n'laiiitainino-  what  we  conceive 
he   Charleston  disirSttioiial   ri;iliis,   in  dedarinii'  '"  'he  world 
Well,  sir.  task  Wn'the  In  arts  of  lh»>  Aiuericaii  |)eople  then. 


panic  / 
invaded 


le  111  arts  of  lh<>  American   |)e( 

I    remeiiiiH  lnrninjjj  ltri<rhtly  the  fires  of  7'i.  v,-e  are 

this   IJistrjted  upon — I  had  almost  said  with  a  ?.neer — 

I  with  fire.     Tiie  <r(j^'«»  ^var  jicuileiiieii  ;"  we  are  cliartj-ed   with 

hen,  probably.  plav|^adin<r :"    yes,  ijasoonadin^T '       If  •'    be 

u  lawn  :  or.  sehoolioliiidino-.  let  us,  for  the   lioiior  of  oiir   Kevo- 

pinhook.  in  hope  tjirMlry  sires,  gasconade  on  the  side  of  our  own 

the  habhlino-  brook. f^  country.     Truly    there  has  been  i^astjoii- 

f  of  the  distant  caii!g»,'1eveii  to  the  raltliiifTof  Kn^Hand's  inoriiiiijr 

my  smoke  that  marafc  producing  that  sensation  which,  I   trust 

the  iiivadino;  ineerto^  will  never  be  fell  by  but  one  \'iri,nnian  : 

thill  lieiirin<r  of  tln-if.^jt,  never  ajrain  e.vi)r"essed  in  the  halls  of 

the  mere  Ihoughl  (liBprican    Conjrress.     I    ask.  can   the   senti- 

tiis  heari.     Ouemia^of  the  gentleman  be  the  spiitimeiits  of  the 

olleetion  of  a  flamiMMJominion  V     (Here  (ien.  Atchison,  half 


riumphs  of  the  rov 
nkindled  the  lire  o 
wakened   an  ardeil 
■  avenoiiig  ourselv»] 
ping  out  111   his  hi 
ies  and  his  insolein 


said,  No,  never ;  and  (iod   forbid   it  ever 

the  geiith;man  says   we   must    negotiate. 

sir,  we  have  done  it :  we  have  been   ue- 

ng  for  nearly  thirty  years,  and  wearc?  now 

where  we  were   in    1811).     Hut.  again,   we 


lys  rises  but  in  tctid  we  must  settle  this  lung  pending  tjues- 
II,  and  he  frankly  i  %  arbitration.  And  who  are  we  to  select 
In  making  sufitlMi  arbitrator?  Russia?  She  is  a  member 
e  he  does  injusticth«- 1  loly  Alliance.  Austria?  She  is  also  a 
he  her  sentinieiimlilEr.  Prussia?  She  liktjwise,  is  a  memher 
th*>h')ly  fraternity  of  desjjots.  France?  She, 
tious  gentlemen  ;>ugh  not  nominally,  is  also  in  feeling  and  prin- 
to  infect  others  v>\9  with  them.  .Viid  wliy  not  submit  the  ques- 
}  our  hand  at  Old  £a  lielweeu  us  and  fjieat  Britain  to  the  arbitra- 
th  gasconading.  Jittof  any  of  these  powers  .'  Because  the  end 
•  resources,  what  d  object  of  the  Holy  Alliance  is  lo  check  the 
,  and  what  she  KVitee  of  Republican  principles  throughout  ihe 
ntlenien,  if  they  aflf.  And  the  feelings  of  the  French  Govern- 
notice,  to  cease  unf|i|  towards  us  and  Republican  principles,  is 
well  indicated  by  her  recent  conduct  in 
,  and  her  present  wanton  and  unprovoked 
,  in  conjunction  with  Fiiigland,  upon  the 
tine  Republic.  Russia  has  been  thought 
some  as  likely  to  be  an  impartial  umpire, 
ere  would  be  special  reasons"  for  her  lean- 
n  this  question,  to  the  side  'of  Great  Bri- 
If  the  Wolverines,  the  Hoosiers,  the  Suck- 


ability  and  the 

jeople  to  defend  il 

when  assailed  fi 

rful.    Mr.  CtAY, 

i  submissionists  wij 


ers,  and  the  Buckeyes  should  settle  in  the  prox- 
imity of  o 4°  40',  going  lo  a  man  for  DeiiuM'ratit; 
principles,  (as  they  use«l  losing  '•  a  Democratic 
wife  or  none  at  all")  his  Russian  Majesty  might 
not  like  s.ich  people  for  near  neighbors,  but  would 
intinitely  preler  the  British.  I  would  trust  none 
(if  thesiMiionarchs  lor  referees.  But  my  friend 
from  N'irginia  is  in  favor  of  "a  masterly  inaeti- 
vit)'.*"  I  am  really  at  some  loss  lo  know  what  a 
"■  iir.isierlv  inaciivily"  is.  I  am  i(dd  by  some 
genllemeii  il  is  •"  the  American  multiplication 
!al)le."  The  gentleman  said  ihat  Mr.  Polk  and 
Mr.  Bnchanaii   never   calculated   on   success  by 

this  rule,  for   Victoria   and    Peel    were . 

The  gentleman  oughi  lo  have  recollected  that  he 
too  dues  not  seem  very  well  to  understand  the 
rule  of  subtraction,  fur  he,  like  myself,  has  not 
practically  h^arned  that  one  I'ruie,  two  make  three. 
(A  langli.) 

My  friend  from  the  Tenth  [iCgioii  [Mr.  Jij;u- 
i.NGKu,]  says  he  is  for  a  masterly  inactivity:  we 
must  lie  luw  ;  we  most  •' bide  our  time."  VVail 
a  liltlc.says  the  prudent  gentleman — wait  a  litllo 
while — .lohn  Bull  is  gelling  to  be  an  old  man, 
and  yon  will  soon  be  strong  eiiou"b  to  copt;  with 
liim,  and  get  him  down.  I  really  did  nut  expect 
such  an  exhibition  of  Virginia  tdiivalry.  Do  your 
bullies  in  Virginia  wait  till  their  adversaries  get 
old  and  feeble,  and  then  fall  ah(iar.l  of  them. — 
This  is  a  'masterly  inactivity."  indeed  !  Wail 
till  John  Dull  is  old  and  decrepid,  and  then  you 
csin  get  him  on  his  Itack,  and  gouge  him  at  [ilea- 
siire!  This  is  Virginia  chivalry!  Tiiis,  then, 
is  "'ma^lerly  inactivity!" 

lint  the  gentleman  explained  himsidt'.  Ho 
gave  us  a  graphic  sketch  of  the  American  eagle, 
and  held  him  up  as  ;in  example  for  our  imitation, 
in  our  course  aixiul  Oregon.  And  what  was  this 
imperial  bird,  after  all?  A  foolish  fowl  (if  it 
was  an  eagle,  ii  must  have  been  a  very  youn^ 
one,)  that  took  his  seat  on  a  tall  rock  at  Harper's 
F^erry,  because  he  was  afraid  of  a  cloud  that  after- 
wards passed  by  without  a  drop  of  rain.  ("A 
laugh.]  If  this  is  the  gentleman's  ■'  masterly  in- 
activity," I  will  have  none  of  it.  The  gentleman 
the  other  day  said  he  was  speaking  without  his 
slasses.and  could  not  discern  the  gentl(>man  from 
Ohio, on  the  other  side  uf  the  hall.  I  would  re- 
9pe?tfuily  ask  of  him  whether  he  was  without 
his  glasses  when  lie  saw  that  cowardly  bird. 
I  Laughter,  j  This  Harper's  Ferry  eagle  of  his, 
has  been  sitting  on  that  rock,  with  his  wings 
folded  in  '•  masterly  inactivity,"  for  nearly  thirty 
years  : — hul  1  would  say  to  him  :  let  us  give  this 
notiee — let  us  break  the  fetters  that  have  so  long 
paralyzed  every  movement  of  tliis  noble  bird, 
and  then,  unencumbered,  he  can  .spread  ids  ma- 
jestic pinions  to  every  breath  of  heaven — his 
flight  will  be  upward  and  onward,  breasting  any 
and  every  storm — facing  the,  eye  of  day,  until 
his  glorious  form  shall  be  lost  in  the  dazzling 
empyrean. 

We  are  told  that  there  will  be  a  war.  Per- 
hajis  yon  may  be  able  to  convince  us  that  there 
will  be  a  war ;  but  this  should  not  deter  us  from 
asserting  our  rights.    The  gentleman  says  we 


<! 


8 


will  ffei  whippod  in  tlio  fight,  and  anks — what! 
du  you  not  (unr  ?  I  do  tour ;  but  iiut  the  Uritisli 
lion — his  |)aw  iiast  no  tnrrors  for  me.  I  tear  to 
rofiidft  to  spnaii,  l*'st  I  should  otfnr  iuRult  to  the 
thi)usand8  of  iVecmon  wl)o,  at  tiie  imllot  box,  wild 
to  nuf,  "}jo  and  <jivH  this  tiolicH  ti>  (irnat  Britain. 
Oregon  is  ours;  iind  if  war  jrrou s  out  of  ii,  \\r 
an;  reaijy  for  iIh!  eoutt>sl,"  For  myscir.  i  have 
no  foars  of  thi?  conlliot.  True,  il  has  not  been 
iTiy  h)t  to  uiiuirli-  in  \\\o  strife  of  aeluai  war,  but 
I  liavc  bot'u  familiar,  siiioo  cbiKliuKul,  vvilh  tho 
recital  of  the  horrors  of  Indian  atrocities — of  the 
terrific  war-wlioop  and  i  have  also  witnessed 
the  effect  of  the  death-dftalintj  rifle  of  the  West. 
But  I  do  fear,  if  we  do  not  give  this  notice,  and 
foll./w  it  up  ity  additional  mtsasures,  h^nirland,  by 
our  tardines-^,  will  got  possession  of  fair  and  fertile 
Oregon.  Tear!  No;  we  were  but  in  our  in- 
fancy as  a  nation — when  we  liad  but  tliree  mil- 
lions of  people — and  we  eaiiu;lii  the  JJrilish  lion 
by  his  sliawy  beard,  and  made  the  dew-drops 
fall  from  his  mane  thieker  than  a  summer  shower. 
And  are  we  to  fear  liiin  now,  wlu"i  we  have 
twenty  millions,  and  means  of  oU'enee  and  de- 
fence in  proportion?  AVhat  did  we  do  in  iHl2l 
We  repeat(!d  liie  rouijh  embraci-of  TO,  and  sent 
him  houlinij  to  lii-<  den.  And  nou.fur  one.  I 
say,  il  he  will  fi^lu  us  attain,  sooner  than  surren- 
der the  prey  he  has  tint  his  claws  upon,  let  the 
contest  come. 

But  it  has  been  said  bi-rc  that  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee  are  tiir  in  tlie  interior,  and  thai  even 
the  sound  of  the  lialtio  will  not  reach  us.  True, 
our  Slates  are  nut  on  the  trontier;  but  1  ask,  if  in 
the  hour  of  peril  and  conflict,  their  hardy  sons  have 
not  been  found,  wherever  danger  [)ressed  their 
country's  arms'?  Were  they  not  at  New  Or- 
leans? and  upon  what  battle  field  en  our  Nor- 
thern frontier  do  not  their  bonts  whiten  in  the 
sun  7  They  were  ever  ready  for  the  warlike 
strife,  and  never  more  so  than  at  the  present  mo- 
ment, should  their  country  demand  their  servi- 
ces. Fear !  No,  before  they  would  submit  to 
that  haughty  and  domineering  power,  which 
seeks  to  bow  the  entire  globe  to  her  sceptre,  they 
will  chearftdly  hazard  all  the  dangers  of  the  light. 
But  we  are  told  we  have  no  navy — no  army — no 
cannon — no  muskets — no  munitions — no  gene- 
rals. We  have  generals  in  Teimesaee ;  and  if 
we  had  none,  l»y  the  grace  of  God.  we  would  raise 
Gen.  .Jackson's  '*  cocked  hat  upon  a  hickory 
pole,"  with  the  epiuleties  he  wore  at  New  Or- 
leans, and  its  effect  would  be  more  magical  than 
the  standard  of  the  Prophet  of  Mecca.  Fifty 
thousand  brave  Tennesseeans  would  rally  at  the 
sight,  and  arm  themselves  for  the  battle.  I  am 
very  sure  the  gallant  gentleman  from  Alabama, 
FGen.  McConnell]  and  the  valiant  gentleman 
from  Missouri,  [Mr.  Sims]  would  soon  be  u|X)n 
the  muster  ground  struggling  for  the  poh;,  (much 
laughter.) 

I  had  much  more  to  say,  but  I  perceive  my 
time  is  rapidly  running  out.  There  is  one  thing 
in  which  I  rejoice :  I  have  seen  throughout  this 
entire  debate  that  there  is  a  fixed  determination 
onall  mdes  of  the  Committee,  not  to  make  this 


a  party  question.     It  is  truly  a  national] 
I  cannot,  and  I  will  not,  connent  that  it{ 
made  a  party  question.     It  is  strictly 
phatieally  a   National   (piestiun,   invnl 
rights,  the  inter.*st,  ind  the  honor  of  th 
True,  I  have  heard   iMs  stoutly  denie  i 
has  been  gravely  asked,  how  is  our  lum' 
'^ated  I  where  have  the  Hritish  ever  iiiv|j 
flag  '     i{ut  arc  gentlemen  not  aware  tli  | 
lion  may  be  insulted  without  having  its  II 
pled  upon  ?     I  would  say  there  is  a  tjui 
which  our  honor  as  a  icition  was  compr.^ 
and  it  is  a  burning,  "  murky"   shame. 
Government  has  rested  tamely  so  long  i, 
(  allude  to  the  burning  of  the    Caroline  j 
an  American  vessel  was  seized  on  Ameri- 
set  on  fir(\  cast  off  into  the  stream,  and  p:;J 
ted  over  the  Falls  of  Niagara,  with  Amerij 
/ens  enveloped  in  the  flames  of  the  doom.] 
sel.     This  was  a  case  in   which    the    .VJ 
honor  vas  deeply  involved,  and  which  haj 
been  atoned  for.     Did  timi;  permit,  I  coul: 
to  other  instancer?. 

I  am  tlior<iuglily  convinced  that  the  tinJ 
s;)on  arrive  when  a  contest  between  us  ;il 
Biitish  Government  will  become  inevitabK| 
has  long  beheld,  with  jaundiced  eyes,  tbti 
strides  of  our  glorious  Uepublic  to  slrengilj 
greatness.     We  are  her  rival  in  the  conl{ 
ilominion  on  the  ocean  :  we  are  her  rival  i| 
eivilizalion  and  letters;  and  more  than  all 
the  representative  and  champion  of  frte  jrJ 
nient.  while  she  is  the  ally  of  the  worn  oij 
potisms  of  the  old  world.     She  never  will 
until  she  makes  a  mighty  effort  to  prostrat| 
Ilepubr."  and  arrest  its  onward  marcli  to 
ness.     Tbe  mighty  contest  between  libortJ 
dcfspotism  must  soon  be  fought,  and  knowinJ 
I  am  for  preparing  our  country  for  the  co| 

It  is  said  we  have  no  arms.  But  the  ol 
returns  show  that  there  are  more  than  GOi 
in  the  country,  and  in  Tennessee  every  boJ 
his  own  rifle  by  the  time  h(j  is  sixteen.  | 
but  we  have  no  cannon.  But  a  gentleman] 
Pennsylvania  [Mr.  Thompson]  has  told  usi 
in  two  years,  that  Slate  alone  could  oast  eii| 
to  supply  the  wants  of  the  entire  world, 
have  men  in  abundance,  and  (pointing  tnl 
galleries) — God  bless  them — we  have  the  laf 
with  us.  With  our  brave  men,  our  noble  h, 
ed  woiTien.and  God  upon  our  side,  I  am  suif^ 
shall  triumph. 

This  is  not  the  time  for  us  to  show  any  HI 
like  fear  of  Old  FiUgland.     I   confess,  fur 
that  if  we  are  to  have  a  fight,  she  is  the  '| 
pow  er,  above  all  others,  with  which  I  would  I 
a  contest.     We  have  been  told  that  we  are  hll 
of  her  blood,  that  we  have  a  common  ance3| 
common  laws,  and  common  language.    But 
is  a  powerless  argument.     No  enemies  are! 
hitter  as  estranged  friends.     The  union  betwj 
the  two  countries  was  severed  by  the  tyrannij 
oppressions  of  our  unnatural  parent ;  it  is  si 
dered  forever ;  and  I  think  of  her  now  only  wj 
hatred  for  all  the  wrongs  she  has  done  my  countj 


.-^i^Jd^-^-rsw* 


truly  a  national] 
,  conttnnt  that  iij 
It  is  strictly 
(|uc8tiun,   inviil 
I  l!ie  honor  of  ili 
,8  Htoutly  doiiiti 
,  how  iH  our  hoii[ 
Mritish  cvitr  iii>l 
KMi  nol  iiwaro  lli 
liiiiil  haviiii^'  il8  lli 
ly  liiiTe  is  a  (|ii(] 
itioii  was  compri 
Hirky"   shaiiin, 
tamely  so  long  iJ 
of  the    Caroiiiit 
8(>ized  on  Ameri  J 
he  stream,  and  p:f 
(irara,  witii  Aitieri'i! 
inn's  ot' tlio  (louni.| 
in   wliich    the    xi 
'cd,  and  which  iia 
nu!  permit,  I  com! 

incf'd  that  the  tin] 
est  betvvppn  us  ;i, 
become  inevitablt 
iiiiuiiced  eyes,  ffit*™ 
Leimblie  to  strenui  "" 
rival  in  the  cont^ 
we  are  her  rival 
.nd  iTiorn  than  all 
liainpion  of  fre  e  {i 
|l'y  of  the  worn  oii 
She  never  will 
y  effort  to  prosirall 
nward  march  to 
St  Iwlween  libortj 
lifht.and  knowing 
mntry  for  the  cuJ 
arms.     Bnt  the  nl 
re  more  than  GOil 
nnessee  every  bol 
ho  is  sixteen. 
But  a  gentleman ! 
psoN  ]  has  told  usj 
one  could  oast  eii| 
le  entire  world, 
and  (pointinpf  toS 
we  have  the  Im 
men,  our  noble  li| 
i>ur  side,  I  am  suitj 

|ns  to  show  any  'a 

I   confess,  fur 
rhl,  she  is  the  ^| 

which  I  would  1 
kold  that  we  are  bll 
la  common  ancesj 
1  language.    But 
|No  enemies  are! 

The  union  betwJ 
|ed  by  the  tyrannij 

parent ;  it  is  si 
[f  her  now  only 
las  done  my  countj 


